Practice apparatus for small-arms.



H. B. HOLLIFIELD. PRACTICE APPARATUS FOR SMALL ARMS.

APPLICATION I'ILBD Ammo, 1909.

1,008,337, Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

UNITE STAES ATN FFIQE.

PRACTICE APPARATUS FOR SMALL-ARMS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORATIO B. HOLLI- FIELD, citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Practice Apparatus for Small-Arms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

It is now generally recognized that those unfamiliar with the use of small arms may learn much that is indispensable to marksmanship without actually firing such arms.

The object of this invention is to produce improved apparatus, of the class suggested, that is incapable of injuring the gun, or the like, with which it is used, that is accurate, inexpensive, conveniently carried about with the gun, usable anywhere, at home, in the gallery or field, and that allows practice in adjusting for distance and winds. These ends are sought in providing a preferably one-piece soft metal tube fitting closely in the bore of the gun, extending the full length thereof, and closing, at the muzzle of the gun, the rifling grooves; in securing within the tube an axial spring retracted rod to be impelled forward and projected from the muzzle of the gun by the impact of the firing pin; in providing the forward end of the rod with a sharp point protected by a yielding shield which is momentarily pressed back by impact, exposing the point which marks the target.

In use, the muzzle of the gun is held at a short distance from a very small target so arranged that it may be adjusted in height or set out of position to the right or left, to a distance corresponding to the change needed for any velocity of transverse wind. The target is further adapted to allow sighting at a distant full sized target and registering the shot upon the small target.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents, in side elevation, a service musket and a portion of the small target forming a part of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an axial section of that part of the apparatus used in the gun. Fig. 3 shows the target proper in a box-like support therefor. Fig. 4 shows in like view a portion of the same support with the target arranged for sighting at a distant large target. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the arrangement for long distance shooting and for taking wind Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 20, 1809.

Patented Nov. 14:, 1911. Serial No. 491,144.

into account. Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77, Fig.6.

In these views, A represents an ordinary military rifle in the bore of which is inserted an accurately fitting but readily removable soft metal tube B, usually of brass, and preferably provided with a terminal flange or button B covering the end of the barrel, excluding moisture and preventing corrosion. WVithin the tube is an axial steel rod B which slides freely in a bearing B near the muzzle end of the tube and fixed therein. To the rod is fixed a collar B, at some distance from the bearing B fitting but sliding easily in the tube, and between the bearing and collar a light spring B is coiled about the rod. The spring being normally slightly compressed, endwise, presses the rod gently rearward, but the movement of the rod under the influence of the spring is limited by a heavy stop B fixed to the rod between the muzzle of the rifle and the bearing B At the opposite end of the tube, a second collar B is fixed to the rod in position to project slightly from the tube, as shown, when the stop B- rests against the bearing B From the heavy stop B a central needle B pro ects forwardly, but is normally covered and protected by shield B of soft rubber or the like perforated to slip over the needle.

The brass tube being oiled, usually, is slipped into the muzzle of the rifle and pressed rearward until its terminal flange or button fits against the end of the barrel, when its opposite end will lie approximately in the plane of the opposite end face of the same. The fit of the tube is such that when in place it is frictionally held although readily withdrawn, and it is to be noted that the softer metal "cannot injure the rifling and that the interior of the barrel is even better protected than it is when, no tube being in place, a plug is inserted in its muzzle.

If now, with the tube and its attachments in place, the firing pin be shot forward as in firing the gun, it strikes the terminal face of the collar B impelling it forward suddenly, the inertia of the rod and attached parts carries it forward, overcoming the tension of the long, light spring, and the needle bearing portion is suddenly projected several inches beyond the muzzle, and is instantly retracted and brought to initial position by the spring. If in its sudden advance the end of the rod as a whole strikes a plane surface the rubber yields momentarily, allowing the needle to press against the surface with considerable force, whereby if the surface be suitable, it is perforated or marked.

The target sheet is usually a small card C which is pressed or slipped endwise into a corresponding recess in the preferably rubber face C of a block C sliding in a recess in a trough-like support G which is cut away centrally at C and provided at its ends with stops C, C The block receiving channel in the support has overhanging sides and the block, which is shown in this instance as having its front the full width of the support, is cut away so that its rear portion C extends to some distance into the recess and on one side engages the overhanging wall. Its opposite side does not so engage directly, but is provided with a spring C which so engages and which also presses the block laterally, insuring engagement upon the opposite side. The con struction is such that when the side bearing the spring is forcibly pulled forward the block rotates out of the recess. The sup port may have a hinged cover D, cut away at D to shut over the projecting portion of the block when the latter is pushed down to the end of the channel, as shown in Fig. 8. The target card is provided near one end with the usual bulls-eye and rings E, and at a distance from the bulls-eye equal to the distance from the top of the gun sight to the axis of the bore, it is provided with a central spot E. The card being placed in the block, spot uppermost, as in Fig. 3, and the block itself being vertically adjusted in the recess to be at a convenient height for the individual who holds the gun, the lat ter is held at a short distance from the target, aimed at the spot and fired. The rod leaps out, strikes the card, and the rubber yielding the needle protrudes and marks the card in the bullseye or otherwise, according to the accuracy of the marksman.

Upon the back of the block is a thin metal card holder F, preferably, but not necessarily, a plate of thin spring brass having in its lower part a slot F through which passes a closely fitting securing screw F Near the upper end of the slot the plate is bent sharply rearward and then carried upward parallel to the face of the block, the lateral margins being bent inward to the block to form an upwardly open card pocket. At the bottom of this pocket the plate preferably has card-supporting lugs F That part of the plate forming the back of the pocket is above the target block and is centrally cut away to form a sight opening F having a somewhat sharp notch or angle at its central lowest point, which is normally at the spots distance above the bulls-eye.

If a card be reversed and placed in the face of the target block, as in Fig. 5, and if a second non-reversed card be placed in the pocket, the parts are so proportioned that the spots upon the two cards will. normally be equidistant from the bulls-eye, and one pointing at the upper spot should on firing hit the bulls-eye. It is plain that the upper aim fixing spot might be directly upon the plate, but it is preferred to use the card since when defaced it may be replaced. If it be desired to change the sights for greater than point blank distance, the plate holder is correspondingly adjusted vertically in accordance with a scale G upon the plate, when, as before, the needle should mark the bulls-eye. In thus adjusting the plate it slips under the screw-head, and this keeps a constant tension on the spring-plate and the latter remains fixed wherever it may be placed. To insure accurate vertical movement, a serrated scale plate H is fixed to the upper edge of the target block and engaged by the inturned margins already mentioned. If the sights be set for right or left wind of a certain velocity, the plate is pressed rearward to disengage it from the scale plate and then swung laterally, upon the screw as a pivot, to compensate for the change in the sights by throwing the spot to one side, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and is then allowed to reengage the scale plate. In this operation the scale indicates the amount of change to be made, and as in the other cases the marksman should still hit the bulls-eye. If a novice has changed his sights in a wrong direction, his shot indicates the fact.

Should practice in aiming at a large distant target be desired, the inverted card is placed in the target block as in Fig. 4:, the sights are adjusted for the known distance of the target, the plate is properly adjusted by the scale thereon, and the gun is aimed at the distant bulls-eye E seen through the notch in the plate and the opening in the back of the support C as in Fig. 4. Again, upon firing, the bulls-eye on the card will be punctured if the aim be accurate.

It is to be understood that as a matter of convenience the term spot is herein used in a broad sense to designate all devices whereby the eye locates a point with which the sights should aline in aiming, an aperture or notch in a plate, and meeting lines being examples of such devices.

It is evident that my invention may be embodied in similar devices adapted for use with revolvers or other one-hand weapons, and in using the term gun herein, the term includes any and all small arms wliatever their ordinary specific appellations.

Obviously, various details may be changed without departing from my invention, and I therefore desire to claim the invention broadly as well as in specific claims.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a target support provided with a normally vertical target way, of a sliding target block removably held in said way and adapted to hold a miniature target card accurately in inverted position, of means for showing above said card and at variable distance from the bulls-eye thereon an aim-fixing spot.

2. The combination with a target adapted for use at a fraction of a guns length from the muzzle of the gun, of means for showing an aim fixing spot at a distance above the bulls-eye approximately equal to the dis tance of the line of sight above the axis of the bore of the gun and for adjusting the spots distance from a vertical line through the bulls-eye.

3. The combination with a miniature target support provided with a normally vertical target way and adapted to allow a distant target to be seen through a space vertically above a miniature target moving along said way, of a miniature target carrier arranged to be adjusted along said way and provided with a sighting notch normally vertically above the miniature target bullse e.

et. The combination with a target block having in front means for holding a small target accurately in position, of a plate pivotally and slidingly secured in the rear of ture target to display the aim-fixing spot,

and means for locking the plate in its adjustment about said pivot as an axis.

6. The combination with a target block bearing upon its front face a miniature representation of a target, of a vertically adjustable plate secured to the block in the rear of said face and bearing an aim-fixing spot exposed above said target.

7. The combination with a target block bearing upon its front face a miniature representation of a target, of a plate pivoted to the block and showing an aim-fixing spot above the target, and a scale to indicate the adjustment of the plate about its pivot.

8. The combination with a target block bearing upon its face a miniature representation of a target, of a vertically adjustable plate secured to the block and showing an aim-fixing spot above the target, said plate being provided with a scale to indicate its vertical adjustment.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORATIO B. HOLLIFIELD.

Witnesses THOMAS DURANT, WALLACE GREENE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 6. 

